I heard this story on NPR yesterday- and I thought it deserved to be shared- since occasionally there is a thread about child abuse here. I hate hearing about child abuse- but I do love hearing a story about people doing something about it- like these people A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in this country. Victims can feel helpless, perhaps wish they had a tough looking friend to stand for them. Well, some children are getting that kind of assistance from a group of bikers, as in motorcyclist. GLORIA HILLARD, BYLINE: Los Angeles's Children's Court. It's 8 A.M. and from a block away you can hear them coming: The bikers. HILLARD: They are men and women in well-worn black leather vests, scuffed boots and denim. Most have visible tattoos and a penchant for silver jewelry. HILLARD: At first glance they're a pretty intimidating bunch, but not in the eyes of the small 13-year-old girl in a bright orange shirt and sneakers. She beams when she sees them standing outside the court house waiting for her. CHARLES COOPER: That's when they need us, you know, when they're the most vulnerable. HILLARD: That's Charles Cooper who, like the other bikers, goes by a road name, his is Frodo. He's a member of Baca, Bikers Against Child Abuse. On the back of his vest is the group's motto: No Child Deserves To Live In Fear. That's why he and the other bikers are here. For children like the girl in the bright orange shirt, who are victims of physical or sexual abuse, the courtroom can sometimes be a scary place. COOPER: To me, the look on their face when they see us and they know that we're here for them, means everything. Because, you know, we kept our promise and that's where these kids have been let down in their lives. HILLARD: The towering bikers escort the girl and her younger brother into the courthouse. (SOUNDBITE OF A CROWD) HILLARD: Four years ago, in a different courthouse, another young girl was set to testify against her abuser, her step-dad. On that day, the bikers had her back. MARKIE DUBRY: I'm glad I had them there. I don't know how if I would have been able to make it up those stairs. (LAUGHTER) HILLARD: Markie Dubry is now 18. She's stands tall, but in her eyes there's still a little bit of the elementary school child whose life had been turned upside down. DUBRY: Even though I was just a kid, I loved school and so I always got straight-As. And then after everything with my step-dad started happening. I didn't shower. I didn't eat. I didn't sleep. My grades went to straight-Fs. HILLARD: BACA is usually contacted by family members or referred by the Department of Child and Family Services, therapists or social workers. Markie Dubry was 14 when her mother enlisted BACA's help. She says she'll never forget that day standing outside her house, hearing that sound DUBRY: You're seeing all these older people come over on bikes and big jackets, all these tough looking beards. So I was like, it's super cool knowing that, oh, these people are going to watch over me. Like, no one is going to be coming around after me now. HILLARD: When a child becomes part of the BACA family, they are given their own biker vest and get to choose their own road name. Markie chose FA short for Freakin' Angel. When needed, they would escort her to school. When nightmares beckoned, they would stand guard outside her house. DUBRY: I probably slept like 10 hours a week or so. Like, I never slept at all. And all of a sudden, after they came into the picture and they were right there in front of me, I was able to finally go to sleep. So it doesn't matter what it is, they'll watch you, no matter what. HILLARD: BACA members are subjected to a full federal background check, in addition to intense scrutiny by the other bikers. Tombstone says you don't have to be a biker when you sign up but... MCKISSICK: You need to act like a biker, dress like a biker and look like a biker for these kids. And it just, it works. HILLARD: Someone who can scare the monster. MCKISSICK: When we first get there, we stand in front of them, we stand around them. By the time they're through with this, they don't need us anymore, we worked ourselves out of job. But that's our goal. HILLARD: He points with pride to Markie Dubry. The girl who gave herself the road name FA is now attending college and is planning on becoming a full-fledged BACA member herself. She's looking forward to learning to ride. DUBRY: Oh yeah, without a doubt. What great people these BACA people are- glad NPR told us about them. http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212317709/riding-choppers-and-harleys-to-protect-kids-in-need http://www.npr.org/2014/05/20/314293280/child-abuse-victims-bring-some-unlikely-backup-bikers
That's a good story to hear. Glad there are people out there willing to help the abused out. They're good people through and through.
I am rather surprised that there was almost no conversation about this- considering that we have had several threads regarding child abuse- here we have bikers providing support to the victims of child abuse- bikers who are providing a great service to children and their community- and almost no comments about it. Is there no interest here at PF about people doing good things to help kids?
How are they "attacking Child Abuse???" Most Child Abuse comes from fatherless kids whose mothers are single Welfare recipients: Statistics on Fatherlessness CHILDREN NEED BOTH PARENTS (*) It’s a Fact Here’s why: 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census). 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. (Source: Center for Disease Control). 80% of rapist motivated by displaced anger come from fatherless homes. (Source: Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 14, pp. 403-26). 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. (Source: National Principals Assoc. Report on the State of High Schools). 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home. (Source: Fulton County Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. Of Corrections, 1992). These statistics translate to mean that children from fatherless homes are: 5 times more likely to commit suicide 32 times more likely to run away 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders 14 times more likely to commit rape 9 times more likely to drop out of high school 20 times more likely to end up in prison Children from "fatherless families of single mother" homes are*: (*) • 15.3 times more likely to have behavioral disorders • 4.6 times more likely to commit suicide • 6.6 times more likely to become teenaged mothers • 24.3 times more likely to run away • 15.3 times more likely to have behavioral disorders • 6.3 times more likely to be in a state-operated institutions • 10.8 times more likely to commit rape • 6.6 times more likely to drop out of school • 15.3 times more likely to end up in prison while a teenage • 73% of adolescent murderers come from mother only homes •(*) 6.3 times more likely to be in state operated institutions (*) Daughters who live in mother only homes are 92% more likely to divorce**
MOD EDIT>>>FLAME BAIT REMOVED<<< I was delighted to read the story, especially after just finishing a separate story about four police officers beating a man to death in Washington because he was running around with a screwdriver. You can't judge a book by its cover.
Sure, but at that point there we're not arguing the cause of childhood abuse, we're just arguing what can be done about it.
I neglected to provide the links to the article http://www.npr.org/2013/08/16/212317709/riding-choppers-and-harleys-to-protect-kids-in-need http://www.npr.org/2014/05/20/314293280/child-abuse-victims-bring-some-unlikely-backup-bikers - - - Updated - - - And maybe someday I will feel like you are actually posting to address those causes.... What have you done lately that helps children as much as what these bikers have done?
Hmm which culture is that? I support the U.S. Constitution. I support equal rights for all Americans. I don't believe that the government should intrude on an adults privacy. I believe in Freedom of Speech, and the Right to Bear Arms- along with the other rights. And I started a thread about a group of people that are doing more than I- or you- are doing to help abused children.
yeah,... I read the OP. Bikers are in support of kids having trouble with a father-in-law: "Even though I was just a kid, I loved school and so I always got straight-As. And then after everything with my step-dad started happening. I didn't shower. I didn't eat. I didn't sleep. My grades went to straight-Fs." They are not helping at all by this physical action. What we need is people to STOP divorce, re-marriage, and father-in-laws raising kids. We need people to raise their voices, not their motor cycles.
Sympathy is great. But America needs to face the facts. Sexual promiscuity by women ends with Gays demanding similar rights even marriage with easy No Fault Divorce rules, too. That's how the Child abuse by single mothers raising fatherless kids ends as a national event directed at half the population now.
MOD EDIT>>>FLAME BAIT REMOVED<<< This Child Abuse comes to fatherless kids because half the babies born today are illegitimate. The mothers gain Welfare and approval as if the word "bastards" is no longer a meaningful term. We see the public suffer from the crimes by 70% of these kids. The taxes for Welfare and Courts and Jails is enormous. EVERY institution in the nation is being torn down by this attitude that sex can be promiscuous in front of kids.
My bad: let it begin with YOU. Let me reiterate: this thread id a celebration of a group of people standing up and giving courage to kids who need it. Got it now?
Yep,... I'm "talking" about Child Abuse because of divorce and single mothers every day. Talk is all we need. Talk to women the same way Animal Rights became a Woman's Movement. Child Abuse is the most important matter women could be interested in, isn't it?
ok... so, I read the rules. To the OP.. I think it's a great example of some people making a stand to help others.. that is what makes us great and something that I will always support. >>>MOD EDIT Off Topic Removed<<<
That is like saying we don't need firefighters- we need people to stop starting fires. - - - Updated - - - Feel free to read the article if you want to find out. They also have website- and there are other articles about the good work they do for abused children. Glad I could help you out with that. - - - Updated - - - Not one word about dad's being responsible in your entire post. Not one mention of the word dad or man or father.... 'single mother'...women...Woman's Movement....women..... Almost like you think that men aren't even involved with this issue.
Sorry you feel that way. Sorry you feel that way about a bunch of people trying to help kids. So far they are the only people mentioned in this thread who are trying to do anything to help abused kids. You want to start a thread about what you think are real solutions, feel free to do so. Personally, and in my opinion, dismissing the efforts of people who are trying to help children like this is just petty and ignorant.
Because I refuse to let this thread be derailed by those who just appear to hate it that these Bikers are trying to help kids- I am going to present more articles about them http://www.cbsnews.com/news/biker-gang-wages-war-against-child-abuse/ For years, Karen and her 9-year-old daughter, whose identity CBS News is choosing not to share, were abused by Karen's husband. “It was terrifying when you can’t close your eyes at night to go to sleep because you don’t know what’s going to happen – it’s the unknown that you’re afraid of,” said Karen. Fearing for their lives, Karen found help from an unlikely group of people: a 3,000-member organization committed to protecting children around the world. They call themselves BACA - Bikers Against Child Abuse. BACA helps by stepping into the void left by an overwhelmed court system -- and by forming a cocoon of support around the abused child, pledging 24-7 protection. Each member goes through an extensive Federal background check and adopts child-friendly road names like Scooter, Shaggy and Pooh Bear. “If the child has problems sleeping or getting on the bus or is afraid to go to school we’ll take you to school. When the bus drops you off, we’ll be there. We’ll take you home and if need be we’ll stay in that yard until you feel comfortable,” Dodson said. The group also shows up to court appearances to let the abuser know that the child is a part of the BACA family. For some of the members, the cause is personal; they too were abused. “I’ve known a lot of kids when I was growing up that were under that umbrella of being afraid, nobody around to help,” Dodson said. “That’s why we’re here.” As for Karen, she and her daughter feel a new found sense of comfort and protection. “It was nice to know that all of these people were on her side. She had that backup, you know, and that she wasn’t alone,” Karen said. BACA's motto is "no child deserves to live in fear." Because of them, this young girl no longer does. These folks are walking the walk- not just complaining about single moms.
More stories about BACA http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliv...child-abuse-make-abuse-victims-feel-safe.html The girl chewing on her lip was abused by a relative, according to police reports - someone she should have been able to trust. He's not in the state any longer, but the criminal case is progressing slowly, so he's not in jail, either. He still terrorizes her at night, even though he's nowhere near. She wakes, heart pounding. The nightmare feels real again. She never feels safe, even with her parents just downstairs. The unruly-looking mob in her driveway is there to help her feel safe again. They are members of the Arizona chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse International, and they wear their motto on their black leather vests and T-shirts: "No child deserves to live in fear." This one is very afraid. A tough image Even kids know that nobody messes with bikers. Bikers look big, and strong, and mean, both in real life and in how they are portrayed on television and in films. They are easy riders, sons of anarchy, not afraid of anything. And they take care of their own. A child who has been abused by someone bigger and stronger knows too well what it feels like to be small and vulnerable. BACA shifts that balance by putting even bigger and stronger people - and more of them - on the child's side. And if those even-bigger and stronger people are scary-looking too, perhaps with flaming-skull tattoos, chains on their belts and scars of questionable origin, so much the better. "The biker image is what makes this work," says Rembrandt, 54, who is tall and wiry strong. "Golfers against child abuse does not have the same feel. The pink alligator shirt and golf shoes standing in the driveway doesn't do the same thing." (No offense to golfers. Some bikers golf, too.) What Rembrandt knows is that a biker's power and intimidating image can even the playing field for a little kid who has been hurt. If the man who hurt this little girl calls or drives by, or even if she is just scared, another nightmare, the bikers will ride over and stand guard all night. If she is afraid to go to school, they will take her and watch until she's safely inside. And if she has to testify against her abuser in court, they will go, too, walking with her to the witness stand and taking over the first row of seats. Pipes will tell her, "Look at us, not him." And when she's done, they will circle her again and walk her out. "When we tell a child they don't have to be afraid, they believe us," Pipes says. "When we tell them we will be there for them, they believe us." Earlier in the day, when the bikers met in the parking lot of a nearby CVS/pharmacy, Pipes reminded them to be mindful of their emotions. That means no hugging unless the child initiates it. "Nytro," Pipes says, raising his eyebrows in her direction. Nytro hides her face behind her hands, and everyone laughs. She's quick to hug. And then Pipes says, more sternly this time: There will be no crying. "I don't want to see any tears coming out of your eyes, and the child doesn't either," he says, making sure everyone is looking at him when he says it. "Remember why we're here: to empower the child. If you can't handle it, keep your shades on." Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliv...ke-abuse-victims-feel-safe.html#ixzz32ahllU1a I love what these guys are doing. Its easy to talk about how the world should be- or how its the fault of liberals or conservatives. These guys are taking action locally- and helping one child at a time. Good for them.
